Electric train-line connecter



June 29 1926.

ATTORNEY HARRY FIWOERNLEY H. F. WOERNLEY ELECTRIC TRAIN LINE CONNECTER iled July 10 1924 Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. WOERNLEY, OF-WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEST- INGHOUSE AIR BRAKE GOMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC TRAIN-LINE CONN ECTER.

Application filed July 10, 1924. Serial No. 725,262.

This invention relates to electric train line connectors and the principal object of the invention is to provide means for automatically connecting the bus line circuit between cars of a train, so as to avoid the use of the usual jumper connections heretofore employed for that purpose.

In the accompanying drawing; Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a combined automatic car and air line coupler, showing my invention embodied therein; Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a face view of the construction shown in Fig. 1, showing the air line connecter and the electric bus line connecter portion in partially assembled relation to the car coupler.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates an automatic car coupler, and applied to the under side of the coupler is an air line connecter portion 2, and -an electric train line connecter portion 3.

The air line connecter portion 2 may be provided with a centrally located opening provided with a gasket 4 and leading to a cored passage 5 which may be connected to the usual train brake pipe and openings disposed in horizontal alinement with the brake pipe opening at opposite sides thereof and provided with gaskets 6, said openings leading to a common cored passage 7 which may be connected to the usual main reservoir pipe.

The air line portion 2 is provided with apertured lugs 8 located at opposite sides of the air line openings.

The electric train line connecter 3 may comprise a fixed contact casing 9 and a movable contact casing 10, the casing 9 having an apertured lug 11 and the casing 10, an apertured lug 12. The casing 9 contains a block 13 of insulating material, in which a fixed contact member 14 is embedded. A flexible rubber gasket 15 surrounds the exposed contact face of the contact member and protects same against the weather when cars are coupled.

The casing 10 contains a sleeve 16 of insulating material and moulded in said sleeve is a metallic sleeve 17. A movable contact member 18 is mounted in the sleeve 17 and engaging the member 18 is a yielding stem 19 which is acted upon by a spring 20. The stem 19 is connected by a flexible cable 21 to an insulated cable 22 which extends to the other side of the coupler and is connected to the fixed contact member 1 1. The cable 22 is enclosed in a flexible rubber hose 23. A rubber gasket 24 surrounds the contact 18 for the same purpose as the gasket 15.

The casings 9 and 10 are provided with similar dowel pins 25 and 26 adapted to engage apertures provided at the under face of the car coupler 1.

The parts are assembled by applying the casings 9 and 10 to the car coupler so that the dowel pins enter the corresponding apertures in the coupler and then the air connecter portion 2 is applied, so that the lugs 8 aline with corresponding portions of the casings 9 and 10. Bolts 27 are then passed through the alined apertures in the air connecter portion and the casings 9 and 10 and are screwed into threaded openings at the under face of the car coupler head. Additional bolts 28 are then passed through openings in the lugs 11. and 12 and are screwed into corresponding threaded openings in the coupler head.

When cars are coupled together, a movable contact 18 of one car engages a fixed contact 14: of the other car. By this arrangement, the yielding contacts provide flexibility, so as to maintain contact against possible movement between the counterpart connected couplers when cars are coupled.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a car coupler, of an air line connecter having apertured lugs and an electric train line connecter having apertured lugs, the electric train line connecter and the air line connecter. being socured to the under face of said coupler, with the lugs of the electric train line connecter interposed between the coupler and the lugs of the air line connecter.

2. The combination with a car coupler, of an air line connecter and an electric train line connecter having Contact casings located posed at opposite sides of said air line connecter and 111 horizontal alinement, an electrlc contact member mounted 111 each casing,

and means for electrically connecting said contact members. i I Y In testlmony whereof I have hereunto set.

my base.

HARRY F. WOERNLEY. 

